The Art of Innovative Leadership with Dr. Margaret Diddams
Release Date: 11/06/2023
How Joyful Generosity Is Changing the Way We Give
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What if giving could be joyful instead of guilt-driven? In this episode, Jamie Goodwin, professor at Wheaton College, shares how her background in global churches, journalism, and teaching led her to a deeper view of generosity. We talk about practical ways to give—like giving circles and hybrid nonprofit models—that engage communities and reflect diverse cultures.
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The Future of Foreign Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What’s on the horizon for foreign aid and humanitarian response strategies, especially in light of ongoing funding cuts to foreign aid around the world?
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NGO Strategy and Leadership: 10 Steps of Crisis Management
The Better Samaritan Podcast
Veteran humanitarian leader Roger Sandberg joins us to discuss how NGOs can lead effectively in the midst of funding cuts and uncertainty. As political shifts tighten budgets, the gap between global needs and available resources continues to widen. Roger shares practical strategies for assessing risk, strengthening communication within teams, and re-imagining sources of funding.
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Faith, Resilience, and the Realities of Humanitarian Work
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian work collides with political upheaval and shifting policies?
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How Funding Cuts Are Impacting Anti-Trafficking Efforts With Rev. Dr. Sandra Morgan
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do federal and foreign aid cuts impact anti-trafficking work, both directly and indirectly?
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Compassion and Complexity: Evangelicals on Government and Humanitarian Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when churches, governments, and communities work together across differences in opinion for the common good? In this episode, Dr. Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, joins us to talk about how different parts of the evangelical church are responding to shifts in humanitarian aid and funding, and why these varied responses matter.
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Beyond Charity: Rev. Eugene Cho on Faith, Advocacy, and Fighting Global Hunger
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do advocacy and policy help combat child hunger and malnutrition, both in the U.S. and around the world? In this episode, Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, joins us to talk about what’s needed to tackle food insecurity around the world, what’s working, what’s not, and why surface-level solutions won’t cut it.
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What Happens When Foreign Aid Gets Cut? Lessons from the Front Lines
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian aid gets pulled, but the needs don’t stop? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Beth Stuebing, a missionary surgeon in Malawi with the Christian Health Service Corps. She shares what it’s like on the front lines of healthcare when funding disappears—and why faith-based organizations working on the ground can’t do it alone.
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Faith in Action: How Students Are Advocating for Global Health and Justice
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when college students decide to take action on global issues?
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Inside PEPFAR: What’s at Stake and How Churches Can Engage
The Better Samaritan Podcast
This episode, we talk with Jenny Dyer, founder of the 2030 Collaborative, about her involvement raising awareness for HIV/AIDS - from working with Bono and the ONE Campaign to championing global health in Washington and beyond.
info_outlineDo you want to foster real change and innovation in your organization, but feel unsure where to start? When you’re leading a group of people waiting for your direction, how do you move them toward a new vision?
In this episode, Jamie and Kent sit down with Dr. Margaret Diddams, a well-respected Principal Consultant at the Diddams Group, to discuss the art of innovation in leadership. Dr. Diddams, a former Provost at Wheaton College, shares her reflections on “holy discontent” and its role as a catalyst for transformation. She discusses the essence of painting a convincing narrative around the need for change and emphasizes the importance of collaborative leadership. Bringing innovation to the table can be intimidating, but what if embracing the possibility of failure could lead to unexpected successes?
Additionally, Dr. Diddams shares her insights on the courage, conviction, humility, and integrity vital for leadership, suggesting that the innovation journey can also serve as a crucible for spiritual formation. They also discuss the formation of HDI's MA in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership program, for which Dr. Diddams was (and is) a champion.
Bio:
Dr. Margaret Diddams is the principal consultant for the Diddams Group, working with Christian institutions to develop leadership committed to flourishing organizations and the people they serve. An author and scholar on leadership, she is the editor of Christian Scholar’s Review, the leading journal exploring the intersection of Christian faith and academic scholarship. Dr. Diddams is the former provost and chief academic officer for Wheaton College, where she is a Faith and Learning fellow, teaching courses on spiritual leadership and character.
Resources:
Interested in HDI’s MA in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership program? Attend an online information session on November 10th (apply by November 15 to start in August 2024).
Margaret’s Linked In account
Margaret’s Twitter/X account
This episode was produced by WildfireCreative
Theme Song: “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance
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(Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll host Evangelicals, and sometimes we won't. Learning how to do better involves listening to many perspectives with different insights and understanding. Sometimes it will make us uncomfortable, sometimes, we'll agree, and sometimes, we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction– especially in our blind spots.)
The Better Samaritan podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website.
Jamie Aten, Ph.D., and Kent Annan, M.Div. co-direct the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and are also the co-founders of Spiritual First Aid.
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